A Rainbow of Personality

Chapter 4/3.5

As Twilight and Rarity neared Carousel Boutique, it became clear that something was not quite right.

“Twilight,” Rarity said, stopping her, “Do you smell something?”

Twilight stopped and sniffed. There was a strange, bitter odor in the air.

“Yeah,” Twilight agreed, “But I can’t quite put my hoof on it.”

“It reminds me of Sweetie Belle’s-” Rarity gasped, her face somehow managing to pale, “-cooking!”

Rarity broke into a sprint, running faster than Twilight thought she could run.

I should recommend her for Running of the Leaves this fall, she nearly beat Usain Colt’s record.

Twilight ran after Rarity, the air getting thicker with smoke. Twilight soon reached Carousel Boutique to find the air thick with smoke pouring out of the upper-level windows. A quick forcefield allowed Twilight entry into the boutique while keeping her safe from any fires she might encounter along with the heavy smoke.

Twilight ran into the boutique, looking around for the stairs to the upper level. She found them after a minute and dashed up them. As she opened the door to Rarity’s bedroom on the top floor, a tidal wave of smoke poured out of the door, completely obscuring her vision. Stumbling through the room, Twilight was hit by another wave, although this one of realization. The entire time she had been in he boutique, she had not seen one flame yet. Her suspicions were soon confirmed when she found the source of the smoke, an industrial-grade smoke-pack, used most commonly by the Wonderbolts for their shows. After deactivating it’s enchantment, she brought it outside and threw it down at Rarity’s feet, an unamused look on both their faces.

“If I find the pony who did this,” Rarity started, before hearing a familiar laugh from the clouds above her.

“Oh you think this is funny?!” Rarity yelled. “To see me in such a state of emotional distress? Why don’t you come down here, Rainbow Dash?!”

As Twilight cast a spell attempting to bring the cloud down, they saw an orange blur dart out from the cloud and head to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Brilliant,” Twilight muttered, rolling her eyes, “Now we’re playing chase.”

“Why when I get my hooves on her…” Rarity began.

Twilight and Rarity began walking toward Sweet Apple Acres.

“So could you explain what exactly is going on?” Rarity asked Twilight as they walked. “I mean, I know Rainbow Dash is fast and all, but I have seen her more than usual today, and in a wider variety of hues.”

“Well, I was trying out a new spell this morning, and, in short, it ended up splitting her into six ponies by accident,” Twilight explained.

“Oh that sounds wonderful,” Rarity said, unamused.

“Yeah, magic can be unpredictable sometimes,” Twilight said sheepishly.

“Please tell me there is a solution to this,” Rarity said.

“Yes, thank Celestia,” Twilight said. “All we need to do is get all of the clones in one place so I can cast the counter-spell.”

“Well that sounds simple,” Rarity commented sarcastically.

“I’ve already gotten three of them at the library, including the original,” Twilight said, ignoring the comment. “That means there are only four more to find.”

“Well at least we know where one of them is,” Rarity said, gesturing toward Sweet Apple Acres, now filled with pear trees.

“How the…” Twilight exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. “I’ve seen some pretty crazy pranks, but this is just… incredible!”

“This certainly is an impressive prank,” Rarity agreed. “If I didn’t know better, I would have thought Discord had done it.”

“What in tarnation?!” Twilight and Rarity heard Applejack exclaim from the other side of the field.

“We should probably hurry over there and explain the situation to her,” Rarity said quickly, looking at Twilight.

Twilight agreed as they started running over.